Chair with foldable armrests

ABSTRACT

A chair includes a base frame, a seat frame mounted on the base frame, a backrest frame mounted movably on the base frame and having a front end connected pivotally to a rear end of the seat frame, and left and right armrest frames which can be folded and unfolded independently. Each of the armrest frames includes front and rear pivot assemblies provided on the base frame, front and rear arm supports having bottom ends connected pivotally and respectively to the front and rear pivot assemblies, and an armrest member connected pivotally to top ends of the front and rear arm supports. The front and rear arm supports pivot forwardly and downwardly and pivot upwardly and rearwardly when the left or right armrest frame is moved to folded and unfolded positions, respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a chair, such as a reclining chair, foldable chair, leisure chair, etc., more particularly to a chair having foldable armrests.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a chair 1, as disclosed in Taiwanese Publication No. 580879, includes a base frame 11, a seat frame 14 mounted on the base frame 11, an adjustable backrest frame 12 having a front end connected to a rear end of the seat frame 14, and an armrest frame 13. The base frame 11 has left and right side members 111 (only the right side member 111 is visible), each of which has a horizontal hanging section 112. The armrest frame 13 includes front and rear armrest supports 131, each of which has left and right arm sections 132 (only the right arm section 132 is visible), and an intermediate section 133 interconnecting bottom ends of the left and right arm sections 132 and located below the hanging section 112 of the base frame 11. The armrest frame 13 further includes left and right armrest members 134 (only the right armrest member 134 is visible) supported respectively by the front and rear armrest supports 131. Two spaced-apart pivot seats 135 are provided on bottom portions of each of the left and right armrest members 134. Top ends of the left arm sections 132 and the right arm sections 132 of the front and rear armrest supports 131 are connected pivotally and correspondingly to the left and right armrest members 134 through a plurality of first pivot pins 136 inserted correspondingly through the pivot seats 135 and the left and right arm sections 132 of the front and rear armrest supports 131. The left and right arm sections 132 of each of the front and rear armrest supports 131 are connected pivotally to the hanging sections 112 of the left and right side members 111 of the base frame 11 through a plurality of second pivot pins 137.

When the armrest frame 13 is in an unfolded position, as shown by solid lines in FIG. 1, the armrest members 134 are disposed above the hanging sections 112 of the left and right side members 111 of the base frame 11, and the intermediate section 133 of each of the front and rear armrest supports 131 is located in front of the corresponding second pivot pins 137. When the arm rest frame 13 is pivoted from the unfolded position to a folded position, as shown by phantom lines in FIG. 1, the armrest members 134 pivot simultaneously toward the hanging sections 112 of the left and right side members 111 of the base frame 11, and the intermediate section 133 of each of the front and rear armrest supports 131 is located rearwardly of the corresponding second pivot pins 137.

Since the left and right armrest members 134 of the aforementioned chair 1 are folded and unfolded simultaneously, and since a user usually holds on to at least one of the left and right armrest members 134 to provide support and thereby facilitate his/her sitting down on or getting up from the chair 1, when the armrest frame 13 of the chair 1 is folded, the user is provided with no such support. Furthermore, when the armrest frame 13 of the chair 1 is unfolded, although the user is provided with the support of the armrest members 134, the armrest members 134 obstruct the user's path in getting up from or sitting down on the chair 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a chair having foldable armrests that can be folded and unfolded independently.

According to this invention, a chair comprises a longitudinal base frame, a seat frame, a backrest frame, and left and right armrest frames. The base frame has front and rear ends, and front and rear legs extending downwardly and respectively from the front and rear ends. The seat frame is mounted on the base frame, and has a front end extending toward the front end of the base frame, and a rear end opposite to the front end of the seat frame. The backrest frame is mounted movably on the base frame, and has a front end connected pivotally to the rear end of the seat frame. The backrest frame is turnable forwardly and upwardly about the front end of the backrest frame. The left and right armrest frames are separated from each other, and can be folded and unfolded independently. Each of the left and right armrest frames includes front and rear pivot assemblies provided on the base frame, front and rear arm supports having bottom ends connected pivotally and respectively to the front and rear pivot assemblies, and an armrest member connected pivotally to top ends of the front and rear arm supports. The front and rear arm supports pivot forwardly and downwardly when the left or right armrest frame is moved to a folded position. The front and rear arm supports pivot upwardly and rearwardly when the left or right armrest frame is moved to an unfolded position from the folded position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a chair disclosed in Taiwanese Publication No. 580879;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view, illustrating a connection between an armrest frame and a base frame of the chair of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment of a chair according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view, illustrating a connection between an armrest frame and a base frame of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the preferred embodiment taken along line V-V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary schematic view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating the armrest frame in an unfolded position; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but with the armrest frame in a folded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the preferred embodiment of a chair 2 according to the present invention is shown to comprise a longitudinal base frame 21, a seat frame 24, aback rest frame 3, and left and right armrest frames 4 (only the right armrest frame 4 is shown).

The longitudinal base frame 21 includes left and right side-rods 211 (only the right side rod 211 is shown) having front and rear ends, front and rear legs 217, 218 extending downwardly and respectively from the front and rear ends of the left and right side rods 211, and a plurality of spaced-apart first cross rods 22 interconnecting the left and right side rods 211 in a conventional manner. A first hollow tube 212 projects sideward from each of the left and right side rods 211. A second hollow tube 213 is connected to a bottom portion of each of the left and right side rods 211. The base frame 21 further includes a second cross rod 23 connected between the left and right side rods 211 and disposed proximate to the rear ends of the left and right side rods 211.

The seat frame 24 is mounted on the base frame 21, and includes left and right seat rods 241 having front ends extending toward the front ends of the left and right side rods 211 and rear ends opposite to the front ends of the seat frame 24, and a plurality of seat straps 242 connected between the left and right seat rods 241 at predetermined intervals along the length of the seat frame 24.

The backrest frame 3 includes a backrest member 31 mounted movably on the base frame 21 and having a front end connected pivotally to the rear ends of the left and right seat rods 241 of the seat frame 24 and a rear end opposite to the front end of the backrest member 31, and a plurality of backrest straps 32 connected to the backrest member 31 at predetermined intervals from the front end to the rear end of the backrest member 31. A supporting bar 33 has one end connected pivotally to a back portion of the backrest member 31, and the other end supported adjustably at the second cross rod 23 of the base frame 21. The backrest frame 3 is turnable forwardly and upwardly about the front end of the backrest member 31. Since the manner in which the backrest frame 3 is adjusted to a desired inclination angle with respect to the base frame 2 is not pertinent to the present invention, a detailed description of the same is dispensed herewith for the sake of brevity.

The left and right armrest frames 4 are separated from each other, and can be folded and unfolded independently. Each of the left and right armrest frames 4 includes front and rear pivot assemblies 45, 46 provided on the base frame 21, front and rear arm supports 41, 42 having bottom ends connected pivotally and respectively to the front and rear pivot assemblies 45, 46, and an armrest member 43 connected pivotally to top ends of the front and rear arm supports 41, 42 through two pivot pins 44. The front arm support 41 has a first hollow protrusion 411 formed on the bottom end of the front arm support 41. The rear arm support 42 has a second hollow protrusion 421 formed on the bottom end of the rear arm support 42. Each of the front and rear pivot assemblies 45, 46 includes a pivot member 452, 462 inserted rotatably into a respective one of the first and second hollow tubes 212, 213, and a coupling member 451, 461 that has one end inserted rotatably into the respective one of the first and second hollow tubes 212, 213 and integrally connected to the pivot member 452, 462 by threaded engagement and that has another end inserted fixedly into a respective one of the first and second hollow protrusions 411, 421. FIG. 5 illustrates one such connection among the front pivot assembly 45, the first hollow tube 212, and the front arm support 41. Hence, the front and rear arm supports 41, 42 are connected pivotally to the corresponding one of the left and right side rods 211 of the base frame 21. In this state of connection, the first hollow protrusion 411 is substantially aligned with the first hollow tube 212, and the second hollow protrusion 421 is substantially aligned with the second hollow tube 213.

The chair 2 of the present invention further comprises a left limiting unit and a right limiting unit. Each of the left and right limiting units includes a front limiting element 243 projecting sideward from the corresponding seat rod 241 of the seat frame 24 and having a groove 244 for receiving the front arm support 41, and a rear limiting element 214 projecting sideward from the corresponding side rod 211 of the base frame 21 and having a groove 215 for receiving the rear arm support 42. Each of the grooves 244, 215 has an opening that faces forwardly. The front limiting element 243 is located above and rearward of the first hollow tube 212. The rear limiting element 214 is located above and rearward of the second hollow tube 213. The front and rear limiting elements 243, 214 limit rearward movement of the front and rear arm supports 41, 42, respectively, when the left or the right armrest frame 4 is unfolded. Referring to FIG. 6, in combination with FIG. 3, when the right armrest frame 4 is moved to an unfolded position, the front and rear arm supports 41, 42 pivot upwardly and rearwardly with the front and rear pivot assemblies 45, 46 acting as respective fulcrums, and are received in the respective grooves 244, 215, thereby abutting respectively against the front and rear limiting elements 243, 214. At this time, each of the front and rear arm supports 41, 42 forms an acute angle with an imaginary vertical line 40 passing through each of the front and rear pivot assemblies 45, 46.

Referring to FIG. 7, in combination with FIGS. 3 and 6, when the right armrest frame 4 is moved from the unfolded position to a folded position, the right armrest frame 4 is pushed forwardly so that the front and rear arm supports 41, 42 pivot forwardly and downwardly with the pivot pins 44 passing respectively through the imaginary vertical lines 40 until a bottom face of the right armrest member 43 rests on top of the front limiting element 243.

Since the chair 2 of the present invention is provided with the left and right armrest frames 4 which can be folded and unfolded independently, the user can choose to fold one of the left and right armrest frames 4 and unfold the other one of the left and right armrest frames 4 so as to facilitate his/her sitting down on and then reclining afterwards on the chair 2, or getting up from the chair 2.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A chair comprising: a longitudinal base frame having front and rear ends, and front and rear legs extending downwardly and respectively from said front and rear ends; a seat frame mounted on said base frame, and having a front end extending toward said front end of said base frame, and a rear end opposite to said front end of said seat frame; a backrest frame mounted movably on said base frame, and having a front end connected pivotally to said rear end of said seat frame, said backrest frame being turnable forwardly and upwardly about said front end of said backrest frame; and left and right armrest frames which are separated from each other and which can be folded and unfolded independently, each of said left and right armrest frames including a front pivot assembly and a rear pivot assembly both provided on said base frame, front and rear arm supports having bottom ends connected pivotally and respectively to said front and rear pivot assemblies, and an armrest member connected pivotally to top ends of said front and rear arm supports; said front and rear arm supports pivoting forwardly and downwardly when said left or right armrest frame is moved to a folded position, said front and rear arm supports pivoting upwardly and rearwardly when said left or right armrest frame is moved to an unfolded position from said folded position.
 2. The chair of claim 1, further comprising a left limiting unit and a right limiting unit, each of said left and right limiting units including front and rear limiting elements projecting sideward and respectively from said seat frame and said base frame for limiting rearward movement of said front and rear arm supports, respectively, in said unfolded position.
 3. The chair of claim 2, wherein said front limiting element has a groove for receiving said front arm support.
 4. The chair of claim 2, wherein each of said front and rear limiting elements has a groove for receiving a corresponding one of said front and rear arm supports.
 5. The chair of claim 2, wherein said front arm support has a first hollow protrusion formed on said bottom end of said front arm support, said seat frame having a first hollow tube projecting sideward from said seat frame, said first hollow protrusion being substantially aligned with said first hollow tube, said front pivot assembly being inserted into said first hollow tube and said first hollow protrusion.
 6. The chair of claim 5, wherein said rear arm support has a second hollow protrusion formed on said bottom end of said rear arm support, said base frame further having a second hollow tube connected to a bottom portion of said base frame, said second hollow protrusion being substantially aligned with said second hollow tube, said rear pivot assembly being inserted into said second hollow tube and said second hollow protrusion.
 7. The chair of claim 6, wherein each of said front and rear pivot assemblies includes a pivot member inserted rotatably into one of said first and second hollow tubes, and a coupling member having one end inserted rotatably into said one of said first and second hollow tubes and integrally connected to said pivot member, and another end inserted fixedly into one of said first and second hollow protrusions.
 8. The chair of claim 6, wherein said front limiting element is located above and rearward of said first hollow tube, and said rear limiting element is located above and rearward of said second hollow tube. 